The Mesmerist (Bill Morrison, 2003)

A film by Bill Morrison
Music: Bill Frisell (composer). Music performed by Bill Frisell, Dave Holland, and Elvin Jones
Running time: 16 min

In this re-edit of “The Bells” (1926), an Innkeeper (Lionel Barrymore) has a dream in which he visits a country fair, and, while under the spell of the Mesmerist (Boris Karloff), is publicly exposed as a murderer. He then ventures into the Fortune-teller’s tent, where, in another hallucinatory vision, he is absolved of this sin. The Innkeeper finally awakens to discover that no such absolution has actually taken place.

Margaret Mead Film & Video Festival 2003

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